AKRON, OH, November 13, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Sherylynn Chapman-Thomas has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mrs. Chapman-Thomas has established herself as a leading expert in college pipeline programming, college access and student engagement in higher education. She currently serving as the Director of Pre-college Programs and Initiatives in the Office of University Outreach and Engagement at Kent State University since 2021. In this capacity, she supports university partnerships with the College and Career Academies of Akron Public Schools, the LeBron James Family Foundation, College Credit Plus and Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Additionally, Mrs. Chapman-Thomas oversees customized visitation experiences, summer bridge programs and summer conference experiences for students throughout Northeast Ohio. She is instrumental in providing college access, outreach and opportunities for students in fourth grade to new freshman in college to help them aspire to post-secondary education and beyond. Additionally, Mrs. Chapman-Thomas supervises graduate assistants, guiding their professional development, and conducts comprehensive training and onboarding for student staff.

Between 2019 and 2021, Mrs. Chapman-Thomas served as Senior Assistant Director of admissions at Kent State University. In this position, she played a pivotal role in shaping recruitment efforts and supporting students from diverse backgrounds through the admissions process. Her tenure as Assistant Director of recruiting from 2008 to 2019 further solidified her reputation as a dedicated advocate for educational access, where she led recruitment teams and implemented innovative approaches to attract underrepresented students.

Mrs. Chapman-Thomas began her professional journey at the University of Mount Union, where she served in Student Affairs as an office intern from 2002 to 2005. Once she received her Masters Degree in 2005, she served as the Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Affairs at the University of Mount Union until 2008. In these early roles, she focused on diversity programming and retention efforts for students, supporting organizations such as the Black Student Union and coordinating events that celebrated cultural heritage.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Chapman-Thomas has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to guiding students toward realizing their potential. Each year, she works with approximately 1,500 students through various programs designed to inspire educational achievement and personal growth. Her support begins in fourth grade and continues through high school graduation, helping students overcome self-doubt and develop self-advocacy skills.

Among her most notable achievements is the creation of The Jumpstart Summer Enrichment Program, a four-day workshop for incoming college freshmen regardless of their chosen institution. This program equips students with goal-setting, retention strategies, financial literacy, and prepares them for college enrollment, campus resources and networking opportunities. Mrs. Chapman-Thomas maintains ongoing relationships with her students even after they enter higher education, often inviting alumni to mentor younger participants, a testament to the lasting impact she has on their lives.

Her leadership extends beyond her professional responsibilities into civic engagement. As the Educational Advancement Fund Captain for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Zeta Theta Omega Chapter, Mrs. Chapman-Thomas leads fundraising efforts for scholarships that benefit undergraduate students nationwide. She enjoys organizing programming such as the "Movement, Meditation, and Mindfulness," a program that encourages seniors to stay active through activities such as line dancing, stretching, light yoga and meditation. With the support of her sorority, she is involved in addressing childhood hunger by partnering with Barber Community Learning Center in Akron to create "CHIPP bags," nutritious meal packages distributed monthly to children in need.

Mrs. Chapman-Thomas' academic background has been foundational to her success. She is a doctoral candidate and hopes to earn her Doctor of Philosophy in Cultural Foundations from Kent State University next fall. Her educational experiences have equipped her with the analytical skills necessary for program development and advocacy work while reinforcing her passion for access, diversity and inclusion.

She attributes much of her success to the strong support system provided by her team at Kent State University, as well as collaborative partnerships with Akron Public Schools, her alma mater, and steadfast backing from university leadership, including the Executive Vice President and Provost Melody Tankersley, Senior Associate Vice President Dana Lawless-Andric, and Executive Director Sonya Williams. These relationships have enabled her to address inequities in education by implementing innovative solutions supported by both agreement and funding.

Mrs. Chapman-Thomas' dedication is further reflected in her personal life. Born in Akron, she is married to a Kent State graduate with whom she has two children: a son who is completing his degree in aeronautical systems engineering at Kent State University and a daughter pursuing advertising studies at Bowling Green State University. Outside of her professional commitments, she enjoys fundraising activities, organizing wellness programs for seniors, participation in prayer and meditation practices, engaging in arts and crafts projects and writing romance novels.

Looking ahead, Mrs. Chapman-Thomas is committed to expanding the reach of university outreach initiatives at Kent State University while positioning its model as an example for other institutions across the United States. She remains passionate about increasing educational access beyond K-12 education by building robust national pipeline programming that connects more students with transformative opportunities in higher education.

Through her expertise, leadership and enduring commitment to student success, Mrs. Chapman-Thomas continues to make a profound difference in the field of educational access and engagement.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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